The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has completed its investigation into the 2013 IHSA Class 2A Boys Basketball State Championship game between Harrisburg High School and Seton Academy and has announced sanctions resulting from that investigation.

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Aledo Times Record - Aledo, IL

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Posted Apr. 11, 2013 at 10:18 AM
Updated Apr 11, 2013 at 10:20 AM

Posted Apr 11, 2013 at 10:18 AM
Updated Apr 11, 2013 at 10:20 AM

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has completed its investigation into the 2013 IHSA Class 2A Boys Basketball State Championship game between Harrisburg High School and Seton Academy and has announced sanctions resulting from that investigation.

“This was an ugly and embarrassing incident,” said IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman. “Harrisburg High School, Seton Academy and the contest officials all share in the blame for the outcome. We also recognize that the IHSA needs to be more proactive in dealing with on-court behavior and conveying the expectations for appropriate conduct to the players, coaches and officials participating in our events.”

During the investigation, the IHSA was unable to corroborate allegations made by Seton Academy that members of the Harrisburg team used racial slurs during the championship game.

“We certainly don’t dispute what the players from Seton Academy reported they heard,” said Hickman. “However, after discussions with those on and closest to the action on the floor, we were unable to substantiate those claims. Harrisburg admits that an inappropriate comment was made by one of its players, but that it was not of a racial nature, and it was punished with a technical foul at the time it occurred.”

The following penalties have been announced as a result of the investigation:

HARRISBURG HIGH SCHOOL SANCTIONS

-Harrisburg High School head basketball coach Randy Smithpeters may have no involvement (team contact, coaching, attending games) with Harrisburg or any other IHSA member school during postseason State Series basketball contests (Regionals, Sectionals, Super-Sectionals, State Finals) in 2013-14, unless he first successfully completes the NFHS Teaching and Modeling Behavior training program.

-Coach Smithpeters has been placed on probation for the 2013-14 school year.

SETON ACADEMY SANCTIONS

-In addition to the sanctions implemented by the school, Seton Academy head basketball coach Brandon Thomas may have no involvement (team contact, coaching, attending games) at Seton Academy or any other IHSA member school during postseason State Series basketball contests (Regionals, Sectionals, Super-Sectionals, State Finals) in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

-Coach Thomas has been placed on probation for the 2013-14 school year.

CONTEST OFFICIALS SANCTIONS

-The contest officials have been reprimanded for failure to enforce the bench conduct rule during the championship game.